Telephone Directories

The last walk of everyone's friend

CCTV footage reveals final moments

by MARY MAGEE

DETECTIVES investigating the murder of elderly Lisburn man Jim Heasley
have issued stills taken from CCTV footage showing the 70-year-old just
minutes before he was attacked as he walked home in the early hours of
Sunday October 17.

They are hoping the picture, and a second image of two people walking in the
area just moments later, will encourage potential witnesses to come forward.

The last footage of Jim shows him crossing Longstone Street on the way to
his Craig Gardens home. There is a silver or grey coloured Vauxhall Astra on
the road at the time.

In the second image a woman with long blonde hair
is seen walking with a man in the direction of Manor Park. Both are carrying
what appear to be nags. Detective Chief Inspector Justyn Galloway said: "Jim
Heasley's nickname was 'Sunshine' and he was well known and well respected
by many people in the community.

"He was attacked on his way home from the local Pigeon Club where he was
drinking with friends and
later died in hospital.

"Our investigation into his murder continues and I am taking this
opportunity to make a direct appeal to the people in these images, as they
may have seen what happened to Jim."

"The man and woman, and the Vauxhall driver may be able to help us with this
enquiry and we would like to speak to them as witnesses. I would ask them to
call 0845 60 8000 and ask for detectives at North Queen Street," he said.

Family's tribute to the man loved by everyone

Jim Heasley with brother David and sister in law Vera

THE family of Jim Heasley who died after being attacked on his way home
after a night out have revealed that he had spent five years battling throat
cancer 13 years ago.

But it was an attack on the popular pensioner, known as Sunshine, in
Manor Drive in the early hours of Sunday morning October 17 that was to rob
him of life.

His brother David Heasley said that his older brother, a slight and frail
man, never regained consciousness after the attack as he walked home from
the Pigeon Club. He passed away peacefully on October 29 at Belfast City
Hospital.

Following his death Jim's eyes have been donated for transplant and will
help two people to regain sight again,

It is the second murder David and his family have had to deal with. His
grand daughter Leona's partner Darren Roberts was stabbed in Lisburn on June
13, 2009.

The Heasley family were brought up in Sawel Place in Tonagh. Jim went to
Central Primary School and was a fitter at Hilden Mill before he joined the
RAF. He also worked as a plumber at Finlay's in Belfast and as a mess hand
for 30 years at Thiepval Barracks.

David remembers him as a character who was loved and respected by
everyone.

"He was a real character," said David. "He loved his drink and he loved a
bit of craic. He was a real Liverpool fan. He loved to watch his team on TV
and loved to play cards"

He was known as Sunshine to his friends because he would call everyone
'Sunshine.'

Jim moved to Craig Gardens ten years ago and was a well known face at
Hagues and the Pigeon Club. "Everyone was his friend, everyone knew him,"
David said.

David was first made aware that his beloved brother was seriously injured
when he got a call from his sister at Gam on the Sunday morning of the
attack. He did not realise how badly injured Jim was until he visited him at
Lagan Valley Hospital where it was revealed that he had serious head
injuries.

He was later transferred to the Mater and the day before he died was
taken to the City.

"He never regained consciousness," said David. "The doctors had hoped
that after 48 hours he would come out of the coma but he never did. We lived
in hope that we would pull through. I knew as soon as I saw him that he was
in a bad way. All we could do was hope and pray.

'After he had pulled through throat cancer in 1997 we would never have
expected this," said David.

"He had spent five years battling cancer and was proud of that.

"It is really sickening when you think that he battled cancer and then
this happened. "He would not have hurt anyone and was disgusted by violence.

"He was 70 years old, frail and sIight. "

David said Jim would often go to the Pigeon Club for company and a drink

"He enjoyed dancing. So the joke was that he would hobble to
the Pigeon Club with his walking stick and once the music was on he would be
up on the floor," said David. "He loved the craic, talking about football.

"Anyone who knew him liked him You couldn't have disliked him. He was
just a character. "
David said Jim's death has left the family distraught. "We just cannot
believe it," he said.

Referring to the decision to donate Jim's corneas for transplant David
said: "That is something that he would have wanted.

"We had been approached and we agreed. We have been told that it will
help two people to see. We as a family know it is something that he would
have wanted."

David said the family would appeal to anyone who can help the police with
their investigation to contact detectives.

"We would appeal to anyone who can help to ring the police," he said.

"It was a massive funeral last Thursday. There were about 600 people in
St Paul's Church and we are very grateful for all the support we have
received, especially the nursing staff at the intensive care